Saxony-Anhalt continues to fight: forest fires threaten our nature!

Saxony-Anhalt continues to fight: forest fires threaten our nature!

There is an encouraging trend in Germany: the number of forest fires has decreased in recent years. The focus is particularly on Saxony-Anhalt, which continues to suffer greatly from these natural events. According to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, 39 fires were registered there in 2023 on an area totaling 39 hectares. This is a small ray of hope, as the total number of wildfires nationwide fell to 563, compared to 1,059 in 2023. A hot, humid summer with high temperatures and lots of showers is seen as the reason for this decrease in fires, as tag24.de reported.

However, the situation is alarming: it is predicted that a forest area the size of New York's Central Park could fall victim to the flames in 2024. While deciduous trees were particularly affected at 241 hectares, coniferous trees had a smaller loss area at only 93 hectares. A trend that represents an important warning for both foresters and the public.

Long-term trends and challenges

The collection of forest fire data has a long history in Germany. Since the 1970s, statistics have been compiled nationwide that include information on area sizes, causes and losses. This data is crucial to take preventative measures. Forest fires not only pose a threat to nature, but also affect the stability of forest ecosystems. Different types of fires can cause varying degrees of damage and costs. The financial damage caused by forest fires averaged 1.19 million euros in 2023, which can be considered reasonably reasonable considering the areas affected, as the Federal Environment Agency announced.

The regional distribution of forest fires shows striking patterns. For example, the most fires were recorded in Brandenburg, while Saxony and Lower Saxony are also affected. In particular, the Jüterbog region, a former military training area, saw more than half of Germany's area burned. However, the causes are often unclear, as no specific cause was identified for 51% of the forest fires in 2023. Human activity is responsible for around 40% of cases, particularly careless behavior.

Pay attention to the dangers

The forest fire season has lengthened significantly in recent years and now extends from May to autumn. It is therefore essential to take the dangers seriously. The condition of forests has a direct impact on the risk of forest fires. Young, open coniferous forests with dense undergrowth are particularly vulnerable. To hopefully counteract this, experts recommend converting conifer monocultures into mixed-yield forests with a high proportion of hardwood. This could not only have a preventative effect, but also contribute to the stability of forest ecosystems, as the statistics from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture show.

In summary, it can be seen that although the challenges in dealing with forest fires continue to exist, the decline in fires in Germany is a positive sign. It remains to be hoped that the coming years will be blessed with stable and responsible management of our forests.